The metaphor of Yahweh as healer in the prophetic books of the Old Testament1 D.F. O’Kennedy Department of Old and New Testament University of Stellenbosch STELLENBOSCH E-mail:
[email protected] Abstract The metaphor of Yahweh as healer in the prophetic books of the Old Testament Yahweh as healer is not a major metaphor in the Old Tes- tament, but it nevertheless plays a significant role in the proph- etic books. In many instances this metaphor is conveyed by the Hebrew root apr with Yahweh as subject. This article offers a few possible responses to the following question: How did the prophets portray Yahweh as healer? According to the prophets, Yahweh’s healing was more than a medically verifiable physical process. The prophetic books focus more on the spiritual heal- ing of Israel and Judah than on the physical healing of an individual (cf. Is. 57:18-19; Jer. 3:22; 30:17; Hos. 14:5 [4]). In some instances Yahweh offered comprehensive deliverance or concrete promises for a “sick” nation. This comprehensive heal- ing includes the rebuilding of the city and temple, forgiveness of sins, joy and prosperity (Jer. 30:17; 33:6; Ezek. 47:8-12). Yahweh’s healing was not restricted to his elected people alone; he even offered healing to Egypt (Is. 19:22) and Babylon (Jer. 51:8-9). 1 A longer version of this article was published in Horizons in Biblical theology (2005, 27(1):87-113) under the title “God as healer in the prophetic books of the Hebrew Bible”.